Drinking fountain discharge device for faucets



Sept. 28, 1965 D. GABRIEL 3,208,671

DRINKING FOUNTAIN DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR FAUCETS Filed April 2-, 1963 INVENTOR. DAN/u GHBR/EL BY QAWM HTTOR NEY United States Patent 3,208,671 DRINKING FOUNTAIN DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR FAUCETS Daniel Gabriel, Bonny Blue, Va. Filed Apr. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 270,028 1 Claim. (Cl. 239-25) This invention relates to devices for use in conjunction with conventional cold water discharge faucets or the faucets of combination hot and cold water discharges for providing a fountain-like discharge of water for drinking and other purposes. More particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character defined, including means for manually controlling the fountainlike discharge of the device.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which? FIG. 1 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional view through a device made according to my invention, illustrating its attachment to the discharge end of a faucet, the section being on the slightly off-center line 11 of FIG. 2, with the valve shown in the dotted position of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section on the line 22 of FIG. 1 showing the valve in closed position; and

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and indicating the closed position of the valve in dotted lines.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown a fountain discharge device composed of two generally similar left and right casing halves 10, note 'FIG. 2, of suitable plastic material, these halves being cemented together at the parting line 11.

To simplify the description, the resulting assemblage of the casing halves will be said to comprise a rounded casing body 12, having a tubular inlet 13 and outlet 14. The inlet 13 is tapered to frictionally engage the discharge end of a faucet shown, in part, at 15 in FIG. 1. Adjacent the center of the body 12 is a transverse wall 16, having a central aperture 17. The wall 16 has aliued bearings -18 and 19, recessed, as at 20 and 21, FIG. 1.

At 22 is shown a butterfly-type of valve, having laterally extending pins 23 and 24 arranged in 20 and 21, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. The pin 24 projects through one side of the body 12 and has a finger-piece 25 fixed thereto for actuation of the valve 22. The pins 23 and 24 are so arranged on the valve 22 as to form a short rounded side 22' and a long side 22" to conform with a short side 17 and long side '17" of the aperture 17, note FIGS. 1 and 2.

It will be apparent that, normally, the long side 22" of the valve 22 will tend to support the valve in the perpendicular position. The valve will maintain this position in the pass-age of water normally through the casing body 12 and it will be noted from a consideration of FIGS. 1 and 3 that the projection of 25 is directed forwardly with respect to the operator and the normal tendency of operation would be downward pres sure on 25, which will result in moving 22" in the direction of 17" and 22' in the direction of 17', as clearly noted in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

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The body 12 has, on the parting line 11, an inwardly extending fountain discharge tube 26, note FIGS. 1 and 2, through which water can be discharged in operation of the valve 12. With a given pressure discharge of water from the faucet 15, the valve 22 can be open ated to any desired extent of closure to control the extent of fountain discharge through 26 to suit the wishes of the operator up to the point of fully closing the valve -22, as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing in full lines. The advantage of this manually controlled discharge is to regulate the fountain discharge, depending upon whether or not the valve control discharge from the faucet 15 is a partially open discharge, or a fully open discharge. Devices of the type and kind can be utilized in a practical manner in the operation of brushing teeth when it is desirable to rinse the mouth after the tooth brushing operation has been completed and to avoid the necessity of having to use a glass or tumbler for this purpose. In this manner, the greatest degree of sanitation will prevail and further obviate the necessity of continuously maintaining the service glass or tumbler in a clean or sanitary condition.

It will also be apparent that this device will enable anyone in a household to obtain a drink from time to time utilizing the fountain discharge and obviating the necessity of using a glass or tum'bler and, thus, further extend the sanitation factors, as well as obviating the necessity of continuously cleaning glasses or tumblers.

It will !be understood that in producing devices of the type and kind under consideration, after molding the separate casing parts or halves 10, 10' and suitably forming the assemblage comprising the valve 22, the pins 23, 24, the assemblage comprising the valve and pin is seated in one of the halves 10, 10' in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing, after which, the other half is placed over and cemented to the first half. .The fingerpiece 25 can be coupled -with the assemblage before or after it has been mounted in the united body -12. It will, of course, be apparent that other manners of construction can be employed for producing devices of the type and kind defined, the present showing being a Simple and economical adaptation for the purpose of minimizing the ultimate retail selling price of the device.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A device of the character defined comprising a generally round casing, a reduced inlet tube at the upper end of the casing for attachment with a faucet, the cas ing having a reduced tubular discharge at its lower end, a manually controlled butterfly-type valve arranged in the central portion of the casing, the central portion of the casing including a transverse wall having a central aperture in which said valve is arranged, said valve including a pin mounted in the transverse wall and projecting through one wall of the casing, the projecting end of the pin having a fingerpiece for actuating said valve in controlling movement of the valve into operative position, one wall of the casing above said valve having an integral inwardly projecting fountain discharge tube, said tube being radial to the central portion of the casing, said pin :being ofiset on the valve to form a short end, and a normally downwardly extending long end maintaining the valve open for free flow of water through the casing.

(References on following page) .5 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hayden 251-305 X Train 137-610 X Eckhouse 251-155 McConnell 137-519 Mead 239-25 Snyder 137-610 X Brunetti 137-610 10 Kimmel 251-368 X Ziebolz 251-305 X Glur 251-305 X Burch 251-305 McCarthy 137-527.8 X Loveland 239-27 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Em'amiwer. 

